Description
This vibrant fajita marinade recipe blends zesty lime juice, smoky paprika, and a mix of aromatic spices to infuse your favorite proteins with bold, authentic Tex-Mex flavor. Perfect for chicken, shrimp, or steak, this marinade brings a delicious punch to your fajitas while being quick and easy to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
Marinade Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 1/4 cup water
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika or sweet paprika
- 1 tablespoon ancho powder or guajillo powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Chili flakes, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, water, minced garlic, smoked paprika, ancho powder, cayenne, onion powder, oregano, brown sugar, cumin, salt, black pepper, and chili flakes until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Marinate the Protein: Pour the marinade over your choice of protein such as chicken breasts, shrimp, or thinly sliced steak. Ensure the protein is fully coated, then cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to 2 hours to absorb the flavors before cooking.
Notes
- For best flavor, marinate proteins for at least 1 hour; overnight marinating enhances taste further.
- Adjust cayenne and chili flakes according to your preferred spice level.
- This marinade can be doubled for larger portions.
- Use a zip-lock bag for marinating to reduce mess and ensure even coating.
- Discard any leftover marinade that has been in contact with raw meat to avoid cross-contamination.
